LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE TO


ASSEMBLY, No. 2231


STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: NOVEMBER 22, 1996

 

 

      Assembly Bill No. 2231 of 1996 provides a statutory framework for dealing with fare evasion on public transportation services provided by, or under contract with, the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT). The bill would make it unlawful for persons using such public transportation services to evade paying the prescribed fare or to withhold proof of payment upon request by an authorized employee or fare inspector. A person violating the provisions of the bill would be subject to a penalty not exceeding $500.

      The cost of the bill essentially would be predicated on the number of fare inspectors appointed by NJT who would request and inspect proof of payment of the prescribed fare from passengers using the public transportation services. However, NJT has not indicated when or how many fare inspectors would be appointed. Nor has NJT provided an estimate, as a cost offset, of the amount of fines that may be collected from passengers violating the provisions of this bill.

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) is unable to estimate the number or timing of fare inspectors to be appointed by the corporation, or the amount of revenue from penalty fines. However, OLS expects that the number of fare inspectors needed prior to January 2000 would be minimal. Subsequent to that date, the new Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit Line should be operational and new light rail cars should also be available for the Newark City Subway; these two events anticipate the use of fare inspectors.

      This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67.